Dishwasher

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a dishwasher. A dishwasher according to the present invention includes a tub forming a washing chamber for washing a washing target; a first circulation duct through which air discharged from the tub flow; an outside air inflow duct in which air introduced from an outside flow; a fan assembly sucking air thereinto from the first circulation duct and the outside air inflow duct and discharging the sucked air; a second circulation duct heating and supplying a portion of air discharged from the fan assembly to the tub; an exhaust duct discharging a remaining portion of air discharged from the fan assembly to the outside.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a dishwasher.

2. Description of the Related Art

A dishwasher is a device capable of washing dishes using water and detergent in a space where dishes can be stored and washing dishes through rinsing and drying processes. Foreign substances on the dishes can be removed by washing and rinsing with water and detergent. In addition, washing of the dishes may be finished through a drying process of removing water remaining on the dishes.

The drying process of the dishwasher is comprised of the process of increasing the temperature of the dishes by increasing the temperature of the water sprayed on the dishes and of promoting the evaporation of the water on the dishes, and the process of removing the evaporated vapor by condensing or absorbing in the cooling duct positioned in the inside or outside of the washing chamber.

When the humid air inside the tub of dishwasher is discharged to the outside, the dishes inside the dishwasher can be quickly dried. However, when humid air is discharged to the outside of the dishwasher, there is a problem in that mold or the like occurs due to a large amount of moisture flowing into the external space in which the dishwasher is disposed, the external elements are damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem the present disclosure may solve is to provide a dishwasher capable of discharging air to the outside with lowering the humidity of air.

Another problem the present disclosure may solve is to provide a dishwasher capable of effectively drying a tub by circulating air in the tub.

The problems of the present disclosure are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems that are not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

To solve above problem, a dishwasher according to the present disclosure includes a tub forming a washing chamber for washing a washing target; a first circulation duct through which air discharged from the tub flow; an outside air inflow duct in which air introduced from an outside flow; a fan assembly sucking air thereinto from the first circulation duct and the outside air inflow duct and discharging the sucked air; a second circulation duct heating and supplying a portion of air discharged from the fan assembly to the tub; an exhaust duct discharging a remaining portion of air discharged from the fan assembly to the outside such that air discharged from inside of the tub. It is possible to discharge the mixed air with mixing the outside air and the discharged air from inside the tub.

Wherein the second circulation duct comprises a circulation part heater heating the portion of air which would be supplied to the tub. It is possible to heat the air flowing into inside the tub.

By further including a first mixing duct mixing air introduced from the first circulation duct, and air introduced from the outside air inflow duct, and then supplying the mixed air to the fan assembly; and a second mixing duct supplying air discharged from the fan assembly to the second circulation duct and the exhaust duct, respectively, it is possible to mix the outside air with the air discharged from the inside of the tub and to circulate or to discharge separably the mixed air.

By further including a first control valve controlling a ratio of air flowing from the first circulation duct into the first mixing duct and air flowing from the outside air inflow duct into the first mixing duct; a second control valve controlling a ratio of air discharged from the second mixing duct to the second circulation duct and air discharged from the second mixing duct to the exhaust duct, it is possible to control the ratio of air mixed or discharged.

Wherein the first control valve is disposed at a confluent portion of the first circulation duct and the outside air inflow duct, and rotates between a first circulation flow path formed inside the first circulation duct and an outside air flow path formed inside the outside air inflow duct, and controls the ratio of air flowing into the first circulation duct. It is possible to control the ratio of the mixed air.

Wherein the first control valve may be disposed to reduce an inflow rate of the outside air flowing into the outside air inflow duct as a drying stage proceeds.

Wherein the second control valve is disposed at a branching portion where the second mixing duct is branched into the second circulation duct and the exhaust duct, and rotates between a second circulation flow path formed inside the second circulation duct and the exhaust flow path formed inside the exhaust duct, and controls the ratio of air discharged respectively from the second mixing duct to the second circulation duct and the exhaust duct. It is possible to control the ratio of the discharged air and the circulated air.

Wherein a cross-sectional area of the first circulation duct and a cross-sectional area of the outside air inflow duct are formed differently in size to each other. It is possible to control the ratio of the mixed air.

Wherein a cross-sectional area of the second circulation duct and a cross-sectional area of the exhaust duct is formed differently in size. It is possible to control the ratio of the discharged or circulated air.

Wherein the first circulation duct and the outside air inflow duct are respectively connected to the fan assembly. The circulated air and the outside air may be mixed in the fan assembly.

Specific details of the embodiments are included in the detailed description and drawings.

According to the dishwasher of the present disclosure, there are one or more of the following effects.

First, since air circulating in the tub is mixed with the outside air and discharged in a lowered humidity state, there is an advantage in that the tub may be dried without damaging the configuration around the dishwasher.

Second, by mixing air circulated in the tub with external air, heating it, and supplying it back to the tub, there is also an advantage in that drying in the tub may be achieved quickly.

Third, since the mixing ratio of air discharged from the tub and the outside air can be adjusted, the mixing ratio of the outside air may be adjusted according to the degree of drying process.

The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects that are not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is schematic front sectional view according to the one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a tub, a circulation duct, an outside air inflow duct and an exhaust duct according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a drawing for explaining the flow of air in the dishwasher according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a first control valve controlling the flow of air between a first circulation flow path and an outside air inflow path according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a second control valve controlling the flow of air between a second circulation flow path and an exhaust flow path according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a drawing for explaining the flow of air inside the dishwasher according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Advantages and features of the present disclosure, and a method of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below but may be implemented in a variety of different forms. The present embodiments are provided to disclose completely the present disclosure and to fully inform the scope of the present disclosure to those who skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. The disclosure is only defined by the scope of the claims. The same reference sign refers to the same elements throughout the whole specification.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings for explaining a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

<About the Composition of the Dishwasher>

FIG. 1 is schematic front sectional view according to the one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, the dishwasher 10 according to the present embodiment include a cabinet 12 forming the outer shape, a door 16 opening or closing the inside of the cabinet 12 and being coupled to the cabinet 12, a tub 14 installed inside of the cabinet 12 and having a washing chamber 14 a washing the dishes disposed inside thereof. The cabinet 12 and the tub 14 have an opened front surface on which the door 16 is disposed.

The dishwasher 10 according to the present embodiment may include a dispenser (not shown) that stores detergent supplied by a user and provides the detergent into the tub 14 in the washing step. The dispenser may be disposed on the door 16.

The cabinet 12 according to the present embodiment form the outer shape, and one side thereof may be opened.

The tub 14 according to this embodiment is disposed inside of the cabinet 12. A space in which a heat exchange duct 80 and a circulation duct 60, 70 are disposed may be formed between the cabinet 12 and the tub 14 according to the present embodiment. A circulation duct inflow hole 60 b through which air flow from the washing chamber 14 a inside of the tub 14 to the circulation duct 60, 70 is formed on the upper surface of the tub 14 according to this embodiment. A circulation duct exhaust hole 64 b through which air flow from the circulation duct 60, 70 to the washing chamber inside of the tub 14 is formed on the lateral surface of the tub 14 according to this embodiment.

The dishwasher 10 according to this embodiment includes a rack 36, 38 accommodating the dishes and disposed inside the tub 14, a spraying nozzle 30, 32, 34 spraying the wash water towards the dishes accommodated on the rack 36, 38, a sump 18 supplying the wash water into the spraying nozzle 30, 32, 34, a washing pump 20 pumping the wash water stored in the sump 18 into a spraying module.

The racks 36, 38 include an upper rack 36 disposed in the upper part of the washing chamber 14 a, a lower rack 38 disposed in the lower part of the washing chamber 14 a. The spraying nozzle 30, 32, 34 may further include a top spraying nozzle 30 spraying the wash water and disposed in the upper part of the washing chamber 14 a, a upper spraying nozzle 32 disposed between the upper rack 36 and the lower rack 38 and spraying the wash water to the upper rack 36 or to the upper rack 36 and the lower rack 38, a bottom nozzle 34 disposed under the lower rack 38 and spraying the wash water into the lower rack 38. Each of a plurality of spraying nozzles 30, 32, 34 may be connected to a plurality of connection pipe 40, 42, 44.

The washing pump 20 may include an impeller 22 rotating to supply the wash water inside the washing pump 20 to the plurality of spraying nozzles 30, 32, 34, a washing motor 24 rotating the impeller 22, and a heater 26 heating the wash water inside the washing pump 20. The wash water pumped from the washing pump 20 flow through a wash water supply pipe 46. A switching valve 28 connects at least one of the plurality of spraying nozzles 30, 32, 34 with the wash water supply pipe 46.

The dishwasher 10 according to this embodiment may include a water supply assembly supplying wash water into the dishwasher 10, a drainage assembly draining the water stored inside the dishwasher 10. The water supply assembly according to this embodiment may include a water supply pipe 48 forming a water supply flow path through which wash water is supplied from an external water source, a water supply valve 50 for opening and closing the water supply flow path formed in the water supply pipe 48, a flowmeter (not shown) measuring the flow rate of the wash water flowing into the sump 18 through the water supply flow path.

The drainage assembly according to this embodiment may be provided with a drainage pipe 52 having a drainage flow path guiding the water stored in the sump 18 to the outside thereof, a drainage pump 54 disposed on the drainage flow path formed in the drainage pipe 52 and drainages the washing water in the sump 18 to the outside. The drainage pump 54 may include a drainage motor (not shown) that generates rotational force.

<Composition of the Drying>

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a tub, a circulation duct, an outside air inflow duct and an exhaust duct according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a drawing for explaining the flow of air in the dishwasher according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a first control valve controlling the flow of air between a first circulation flow path and an outside air inflow path according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a second control valve controlling the flow of air between a second circulation flow path and an exhaust flow path according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, configuration for drying air inside the tub of the dishwasher according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

The dishwasher 10 according to this embodiment include a first circulation duct 60 disposed on one side of the tub 14 and in which air (hereinafter referred to as “first air A1”) discharged from the tub 14 through the circulation duct inlet hole 60 b flow, the outside air inflow duct 62 in which air (hereinafter referred to as “second air A2”) from the outside flow, a fan assembly 68 sucking and discharging the first air A1 flowing through the first circulation duct 60 and the second air A2 flowing through the outside air inflow duct 62, a second circulation duct heating air discharged from the fan assembly 68 and then supplying air to the tub 14, an exhaust duct 66 exhausting air discharged from the fan assembly to the outside of the cabinet 12.

Here, a third air A3 flowing inside the second circulation duct 64 and a fourth air A4 flowing inside the exhaust duct 66 will be explained separately.

Air discharged from the washing chamber 14 a inside of the tub 14 through the circulation duct inflow hole 60 b flow into the first circulation duct 60. In addition, air flowing inside of the first circulation duct 60 flow into the fan assembly 68. A first circulation flow path in which air discharged from the tub 14 flow is formed in the first circulation duct 60. The outside air inflow duct 62 may be connected to one side of the first circulation duct 60 according to the present embodiment.

The outside air inflow duct 62 forms an outside air flow path 62 a in which the outside air introduced from the outside of the cabinet 12 flow. The outside air inflow duct 62 may communicate with the outside through the rear or lower side of the cabinet 12. In addition, the outside air inflow duct 62 may communicate with a space formed under the cabinet 12 and the tub 14. The second air A2 flowing through the outside air flow path 62 a is mixed with the first air A1, thereby lowering the humidity of the circulating air discharged from the tub 14.

The cross-sectional area of the first circulation duct 60 and the cross-sectional area of the outside air inflow duct 62 may be different. Accordingly, by adjusting the size of the cross-sectional area of a first circulation flow path 60 a and the cross-sectional area of the outside air flow path 62 a, the mixing ratio of the outside air flowing into the fan assembly 68 may be adjusted.

The second circulation duct 64 forms a second circulation flow path 64 a through which the mixture of the first air A1 discharged from the tub 14 and the second air A2 introduced from the outside flow. Accordingly, the third air A3 flowing through the second circulation duct 64 may maintain a lower humidity than the first air A1. A circulation part heater 70 for heating air flowing through the second circulation flow path 64 a is disposed in the second circulation duct 64. The circulation part heater 70 is disposed at the inlet end of the second circulation duct 64. The circulation part heater 70 is disposed downstream of the second control valve 74 described below.

The third air A3 flowing through the second circulation duct 64 may be heated by the circulation part heater 70. The third air A3 flowing through the second circulation duct 64 is heated by the circulation part heater 70 and supplied to the washing chamber 14 a inside the tub 14.

The exhaust duct 66 forms an exhaust flow path 66 a through which the mixture of the second air introduced from the outside and the first air A1 discharged from the tub 14 flow. Accordingly, the fourth air A4 flowing through the exhaust flow path 66 a may be exhausted with a lower humidity than the first air A1. Therefore, the humid air discharged from the tub 14 to the outside of the cabinet 12 is not directly discharged.

The size of the cross-sectional area of the second circulation duct 64 and the cross-sectional area of the exhaust duct 66 may be different. Accordingly, by adjusting the size of the cross-sectional area of the second circulation flow path 64 a and the cross-sectional area of the exhaust flow path 66 a, the flow rate of air circulating air discharged from the tub 14 and the exhausted air may be adjusted.

The exhaust duct 66 according to the present embodiment may form exhaust ports 67 a, 67 b in the front, upper side of the tub 14. The exhaust ports 67 a, 67 b according to the present embodiment may be formed in plural in the front, upper side of the tub 14. The exhaust ports 67 a and 67 b according to the present embodiment may be disposed in a region that does not interfere with the configuration of the door 16 in the locking state of the door 16.

Fan assembly 68 may include a fan housing (not shown) forming an outer shape and connecting a first mixing duct 76 and a second mixing duct 78, a fan (not shown) disposed inside the fan housing and forming the flow of air, a fan motor (not shown) driving the fan.

The first air A1 and the second air A2 flowing into the fan housing may be mixed further inside the fan housing by a fan rotating inside the fan housing. The fan housing according to the present embodiment may have the inlet (not shown) communicating with the first mixing duct 76 and the outlet (not shown) communicating with the second mixing duct 78, respectively.

The dishwasher 10 according to this embodiment includes the first mixing duct 76 that mixes air introduced from the first circulation duct 60 and the outside air inflow duct 62 and supplies the mixture to the fan assembly 68, the second mixing duct 78 that supplies air discharged from the fan assembly 68 to the second circulation duct 64 and the exhaust duct 66, respectively.

The mixture of the humid air discharged from the tub 14 and flowing in the first circulation duct 60 and the outside air introduced from the outside of the cabinet 12 and flowing in the outside air inflow duct 62 flow in the first mixing duct 76. Accordingly, air flowing through the first mixing duct 76 may maintain a lower humidity than the first air A1.

Air discharged from the fan assembly 68 flow through the second mixing duct 78. Air flowing through the second mixing duct 78 may be air in which the first air A1 and the second air A2 are further mixed while passing through the fan assembly 68.

The dishwasher 10 according to this embodiment includes a first control valve 72 controlling the ratio of the first air A1 and the second air A2 flowing into the first mixing duct 76, a second control valve 74 controlling the ratio of air discharged from the second mixing duct 78 to the second circulation duct 64 and the exhaust duct 66, respectively.

The first control valve 72 may be disposed at a confluent portion of the first circulation duct 60 and the outside air inlet duct 62. The first control valve 72 rotates between the first circulation flow path 60 a and the outside air flow path 62 a. The first control valve 72 may adjust the ratio of the first air A1 and the second air A2 flowing into the first mixing duct 76.

When performing the drying stage driving the fan assembly 68 and operating the circulation heater 70, the first control valve 72 may be disposed to reduce an inflow rate of outside air flowing into the outside air inflow duct 62. That is, to lower the humidity of the mixture discharged from the exhaust duct 66 to a certain level or less, the first control valve 72 may be disposed to increase the ratio of outdoor air at the early time of the drying stage and lower the ratio of outside air at the late time of the drying stage.

That is, referring to FIG. 4, when performing the drying stage driving the fan assembly 68 and operating the circulation heater 70, the first control valve 72 the first control valve 72 may be lean to the first circulation flow path 60 a at the early time of the drying stage, and the first control valve 72 may be lean to the outside air channel 62 a at the late time of the drying stage.

The second control valve 74 may be disposed at a branching portion where the second mixing duct 78 is branched into the second circulation duct 64 and the exhaust duct 66. The second control valve 74 rotates between the second circulation passage 64 a and the exhaust passage 66 a. The second control valve 74 may control a ratio of air discharged from the second mixing duct 78 to the second circulation duct 64 and the exhaust duct 66, respectively.

FIG. 6 is a drawing for explaining the flow of air inside the dishwasher according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 6, a flow of air in the dishwasher according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The dishwasher 10 according to the present embodiment has a structure that the first circulation duct 60 and the outside air inflow duct 62 are connected respectively to the fan assembly 68.

Therefore, a separate first mixing duct and a first control valve are not provided. The fan assembly 68 according to the present embodiment has the same configuration of a fan housing, a fan, and a fan motor. A first inlet (not shown) communicating with the first circulation duct 60 and a second inlet (not shown) communicating with the outside air inlet duct 62 may be formed in the fan housing.

The size of the cross section of the first inlet and the size of the second inlet according to the present embodiment may be different from each other. Accordingly, the mixing ratio of the outside air flowing into the fan assembly 68 may be adjusted.

In the above, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, but the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. The present disclosure can be implemented in various modifications by those who skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs without getting out of the point of the present disclosure in the claims. These modified implementations should not be individually understood from the technical idea or perspective of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A dishwasher comprising: a tub forming a washing chamber for washing a washing target; a first circulation duct configured to flow air discharged from the tub flow; an outside air inflow duct configured to flow air introduced from an outside; a fan assembly configured to introduce and discharge air from the first circulation duct and the outside; a second circulation duct configured to heat and supply a portion of air discharged from the fan assembly to the tub; an exhaust duct configured to discharge a remaining portion of air discharged from the fan assembly to the outside.
 2. The dishwasher according to the claim 1, wherein the second circulation duct comprises a circulation part heater heating the portion of air supplied to the tub.
 3. The dishwasher according to the claim 1, further comprising: a first mixing duct configured to mix air introduced from the first circulation duct and air introduced from the outside air inflow duct, and supply the mixed air to the fan assembly; and a second mixing duct configured to supply air discharged from the fan assembly to each of the second circulation duct and the exhaust duct.
 4. The dishwasher according to the claim 3, a first control valve controlling a ratio of air flowing from the first circulation duct into the first mixing duct and air flowing from the outside air inflow duct into the first mixing duct; a second control valve controlling a ratio of air discharged from the second mixing duct to the second circulation duct and air discharged from the second mixing duct to the exhaust duct.
 5. The dishwasher according to the claim 4, wherein the first control valve is disposed at a confluent portion of the first circulation duct and the outside air inflow duct, and rotates between a first circulation flow path formed inside the first circulation duct and an outside air flow path formed inside the outside air inflow duct, and controls the ratio of air flowing into the first circulation duct.
 6. The dishwasher according to the claim 4, wherein the first control valve is disposed to reduce an inflow rate of the outside air flowing into the outside air inflow duct as a drying stage proceeds.
 7. The dishwasher according to the claim 4, wherein the second control valve is disposed at a branching portion where the second mixing duct is branched into the second circulation duct and the exhaust duct, and rotates between a second circulation flow path formed inside the second circulation duct and the exhaust flow path formed inside the exhaust duct, and controls the ratio of air discharged respectively from the second mixing duct to the second circulation duct and the exhaust duct.
 8. The dishwasher according to the claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the first circulation duct and a cross-sectional area of the outside air inflow duct are formed differently in size to each other.
 9. The dishwasher according to the claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the second circulation duct and a cross-sectional area of the exhaust duct is formed differently in size.
 10. The dishwasher according to the claim 1, wherein the first circulation duct and the outside air inflow duct are respectively connected to the fan assembly.
 11. The dishwasher according to the claim 1, wherein a circulation duct inflow hole communicating the washing chamber and the first circulation duct is formed on top surface of the tub.
 12. The dishwasher according to the claim 11, wherein the fan assembly is disposed under the tub such that air discharged from the circulation duct inflow hole flow downwardly.
 13. The dishwasher according to the claim 12, wherein the first circulation duct is disposed to surface contact with an one outer surface of the tub.
 14. The dishwasher according to the claim 12, wherein the outside air inflow duct is connected to the first circulation duct at one side of the tub between the circulation duct inflow hole and the fan assembly.
 15. The dishwasher according to the claim 1, wherein the exhaust duct forms an exhaust port in front of an upper side of the tub.
 16. The dishwasher according to the claim 1, wherein the exhaust duct is disposed to surface contact with the one lateral surface of the tub or the top surface of the tub. 